Limerick snatched a deserved draw in an exciting Munster under-21 hurling championship final when John Meskell pointed an injury-time free at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last evening. Hot favourites Cork thought they had the game won after Ben O'Connor struck a brilliant point from halfway, close to the touchline, near full-time. Limerick led at half-time by 1-7 to 0-5 having played with the strong wind. Full forward Brian Begley gave them the perfect start by scoring their goal after just five minutes.

Cork still trailed by 1-9 to 0-6 after 37 minutes when they got the lift of a goal from substitute William Deasy who took a pass from Eoin Fitzgerald and scored with a blistering drive. Cork only led for the first time nine minutes from the end with a Fitzgerald free but few in the crowd of 8,000 would argue with the result.

Cork: B Rochford; P Sexton, M Fitzgerald, D McNamara; A Fitzpatrick, R Curran, J Barrett; J O'Connor (0-3), A O'Connor; J Egan (0-2), N McCarthy, B O'Connor (Capt) 0-2; E Fitzgerald (0-4), N Ronan (0- 1), C McCarthy. Subs: W Deasy (1-0) for A O'Connor, V Cusack (0-1) for McCarthy, G McCarthy for N McCarthy.

Limerick: T Houlihan; D Reale, E Mulcahy, P Reale; P O'Reilly, B Geary, W Walsh; J Meskell (0-3), S Lucey (0-1); P O'Grady (0-1), S O'Connor (0-2), D Stapleton (0-1); D Sheehan (capt) (0-2) B Begley (1-0), M Keane (0-2). Subs: K Tobin (0-1) for Keane, M O'Riordan for Stapleton, C Fitzgerald for Sheehan.

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).